ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Emendation of A Shi‘ite Creed The belief concerning destiny and decree (Al-Qada’ wa 'L-Qadar) =================================================================== ash-Shaykh Abu Ja‘far says[^1] , concerning the belief in Destiny and Decree, "Discussion of qadar is forbidden", and he narrates in support of this proposition an unauthentic tradition.

Ash-Shaykh Abu ‘Abdillah al-Mufid, may Allah have mercy upon him, comments that Abu Ja‘far relied in this on a shadhdh hadith – which can be interpreted in many reasonable ways.well-known to learned men, even if they established it as sound and authenticated. Thus his proposition does not consti- tute a definitive description. It would have been better had he not indulged himself by discussing the matter without fully comprehending its meaning.

Qada’ is a well-defined term in Arabic usage, as may be proved by the evidence of the Qur’an. Qada’ has four meanings:- Khalq – 'creation', as is proved by the saying of Allah, the Exalted: Then He ascended Himself to heaven . . . So He created them (qadahunna) seven heavens in two days" [41:11-12], that is, He created them – seven heavens – in two days.

Amr – 'command', as is proved by the saying of Allah, the Exalted: And thy Lord has decreed (qada’) that you worship none but Him [17:23], that is, thy Lord has commanded. I‘lam – 'informing', as is proved by the saying of Allah, the Exalted: And we made known (qadayna) to the Children of Israel [ibid.:4], that is We have informed them and told them about what is going to happen before it comes into existence.

al-Fasl fi 'l-hukm – 'arbitration', as is proved by the saying of Allah, the Exalted: Allah judges (yaqdi) with justice [40:20] *,*that is, He will arbitrate between the two litigants. Also His saying: And judgment (qudiya) shall be given between them with justice [39:75], that is a judgment and arbitration will be given between them according to the right.

It has been said that qada’ has a fifth meaning which signifies the completion of an affair (al-faragh mina 'l-amr), and called in evidence of this is the saying of Allah, reporting the speech of Joseph: The matter on which you ask My opinion is decreed (qudiya) [12:41], that is, has been accomplished. However, this fifth meaning is synonymous with that of creation.